On 12 February 2016 the Kazakh delegation headed by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commissioner of the “EXPO-2017” Rapil Zhoshybayev visited India.
In New Delhi R. Zhoshybayev met with Additional Secretary, External Affairs of the Repaublic of India Ajay M. Gondane, Chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Commissioner of the Indian national section in the “EXPO-2017” L.C.Goyal and representatives of the Indian business circles.
In the Ministry of External Affairs the sides discussed state and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in several fields of interaction. R.Zhoshybayev handed a letter of gratitude on behalf of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to the President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee for supporting the candidacy of Kazakhstan to the non-permanent member of UN Security Council for years of 2017-18.
On this meeting the question on the facilitation of the visa regime for tourists and businessmen were also discussed in the run-up to the exhibition “EXPO-2017”. In order to create favorable conditions for the development of long-term cooperation in the field of tourism, Indian side was invited to consider the possibility of signing an interdepartmental document on the facilitation of mutual touristic group trips of the citizens of both countries (ADS Agreement).
During the meeting with L.C. Goyal the sides exchanged views on further cooperation within the framework of the “EXPO-2017” and technical issues of participation. The Indian Commissioner informed about the readiness of the country to show new developments in the field of “green energy” during the exhibition. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), India is among of the top 10 countries that produce alternative energy. The country set the task to increase the proportion of renewable energy sources 5 times and reach the mark of 175 000 MW by 2022.
As a result of the meeting R. Zhoshybayev and L.C.Goyal signed Agreement on the participation of India in the “EXPO-2017”. At the present, 74 countries and 14 international organizations have officially confirmed their participation in “EXPO-2017”.
Also, during the visit, above mentioned delegation held a presentation of “EXPO-2017” in the frames of Road Show on the investment climate and investment attractiveness of the East Kazakhstan region organized by East Kazakhstan region Government in collaboration with Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and with support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India